Michael Hooper makes big career move after being left out of Wallabies World Cup squad

Former Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper has taken a big step to securing a post-playing career in rugby by joining Stan Sport's commentary team for the World Cup after Eddie Jones left him out of the 33-man squad for the tournament.

Hooper's time in the Wallabies strip, which ran to a mammoth 125 Tests, is likely over after a lingering calf injury forced Jones to overlook the nation's longest-serving captain for a World Cup swansong.

Jones said he was backing the youth-filled squad, with 25 attending their first World Cup because they had 'earned it' and was adamant the group could shock the world.

Stan Sport announced this week that the Wallabies' most experienced captain of all time will join the in-studio team featuring presenter Nick McArdle, former Wallabies Mat Rogers, Stephen Hoiles and James Horwill, alongside Allana Ferguson and Wallaroos star Sera Naiqama.

'With the game's most recognisable face Michael Hooper completing an outstanding lineup, Stan Sport has built a commentary team that will do justice to one of the world's biggest sporting events,' said Stan's director of sport Ben Kimber.

'The tournament's loss was our viewers' gain with the former captain set to add new insight to what is already the most comprehensive commentary lineup the game has seen. A huge tournament just got bigger for Stan Sport subscribers.'

Match coverage on the ground in France will be led by Wallabies greats Tim Horan, Morgan Turinui, and Justin Harrison alongside All Blacks legends Sonny Bill Williams and Andrew Mehrtens.

Although he was left out of the Wallabies side, Hooper is reportedly hoping to get to play in Paris at next year's Olympics.

The 31-year-old is on the cusp of signing a new deal with Rugby Australia which could result in him joining the sevens program.

Hooper has been keeping his options open, and has long expressed a desire to play at the world's biggest sporting event. 

'There's an Olympics,' Hooper said in May, before jokingly adding, 'there's rugby league. I'm joking. I'm an open book.

'I have not got anything lined up for next year. I have been in a contract for a lot of time it seems like.

 'Since the end of 2009, I've been signed in Australia with that quick dip off to Japan there but aside from that, it's all been in Australia.

'I don't know where the next thing is going to look like. It's a nice position to be in to be open to all aspects. That's playing or maybe not playing, having time off, whatever. I'm a completely open book or start the next chapter.

'I'm actually really excited by the fact that I don't know what I am going to do.'

The Rugby World Cup kicks off on Friday, with France taking on New Zealand.